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For many people, networking evokes uncomfortable memories of walking into a room with a sea of unfamiliar faces. It is often seen as its own distinct activity, where business cards are exchanged and hands are shaken. In reality, it's something we all do, every day, with our friends, colleagues, clients and acquaintances. At its most basic level, networking is about forming and maintaining relationships.

A core business skill

Networking is becoming increasingly important. In a global economy, colleagues and clients are as likely to be in the US or China as they are in the same office or city, so the ability to form connections becomes a vital asset. What was once a soft skill is now a core skill; at EY, we actively look for candidates who possess it. But do 500 digital friends make you a networking guru? How best are relationships formed? And how can you make the most of your network?

To address some of these questions, EY commissioned research to look into how professionals are networking now and how this is going to change in the future. Populus surveyed business professionals on their current attitudes to networking, and Julia Hobsbawm, founder of the knowledge networking business Editorial Intelligence and a visiting professor in networking at the London Cass Business School, produced a whitepaper on how working and networking will develop by 2020.

The results were surprising. With access to a plethora of online tools to help us network, making and maintaining connections should arguably be easier than ever. Yet our survey revealed that one in four (24%) professionals currently don't network at all.

Face-to-face vs virtual networking

For the majority who are networking, face-to-face rather than virtual networking still comes out on top. Even among tech-savvy junior executives, 68% said they prefer to network in person, compared to 36% who network online. In her whitepaper, Hobsbawm says networking in person helps build trust and understanding, and she recommends choosing five contacts to meet for a coffee or lunch every week.

However, it's not just about paying lip-service to making connections. For networks to succeed and be effective, we need to be prepared to ask for help and be prepared to return the favour. I have lost count of the coaching conversations I have had with mentees who were concerned about using their networks in this way for fear of becoming a burden. Yet, if the tables were turned, most of us would feel honoured to be approached for help and guidance. It's a great privilege to be able to tap into relationships in this way, and not a sign of weakness which is how it can sometimes be perceived.

Women-only networking

Networking can also be an invaluable platform to share knowledge, experience and insights in a safe environment. My experiences of women-only networks in particular, including the 30% Club and EY's Women's Network, have been extremely positive. However, there is sometimes a view that they are merely a "prosecco and cupcakes" affair. Disappointingly, only 24% of the female survey respondents said there was a need for women-only networks in the modern workplace.

As a society, I'd like us to get to a point where women-only networks are no longer needed, where equality and diversity are intrinsic to daily life. But we are not there yet and, with only 20% of women on the boards of FTSE 100 companies, I believe there's still a compelling need for networking opportunities for women that still needs to be addressed.

Life-long connections

It is easy to underestimate the value of making connections, but these relationships are vital for the span of your professional career, whatever path you pursue. Networking is not only about securing business opportunities, but should be about inspiring ideas, sharing information and collaborating. Those who master the art will be better placed to succeed.
You can read the whitepaper here: Liz Bingham is the managing partner for people at EY, and former head of the firm's restructuring practice. This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more content and advice like this direct to your inbox, sign up for our weekly update and careers ebook.Fully Connected: A Look Ahead to Working and Networking in 2020.

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Networking: how to succeed at building professional relationships

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For many people, networking evokes uncomfortable memories of walking into a room with a sea of unfamiliar faces. It is often seen as its own distinct activity, where business cards are exchanged and hands are shaken. In reality, it's something we all do, every day, with our friends, colleagues, clients and acquaintances.

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Do not make eye contact. Pretend to look for someone by peering pensively into the middle distance. Do a few sweaty laps of the room. Get another drink. Get a third. Busy yourself with your phone and visit the loo - again. Repeat these steps then retire to the corner to hang out with that friendly looking pot plant.

Sound familiar? This tried and tested method is how not to network when faced with a roomful of strangers. For many of us - particularly introverts - networking can be excruciating. But with a bit of know-how, it doesn't have to be.

"Introverts can find networking intimidating because of all the louder extroverts in the room trying to sell themselves," says Stefan Thomas, author of Networking for Dummies and self-confessed introvert. "But introverts make the best networkers because they're good listeners and tend to be more interested in other people than about talking about themselves."

If you're an introvert working in an industry such as PR or the media, there's nowhere to hide from networking. Fiona Armstrong, a highly introverted PR professional, says she has had to find "introverted ways" to do "extroverted things".

"Introversion has nothing to do with shyness or general awkwardness; it is an inbuilt aversion to high stimulation environments - lots of noise, lots of people and bright lights," she says. "It's in no way a disadvantage; it's simply a different way of doing things, and introverts shouldn't become fake extroverts to fit the mould."

So if you are an introvert, how do you get the most out of a networking event?

Get there early

"Get to the event early so you're one of the first people there," says Thomas. "It is more intimidating to walk in later when conversations and groups have already formed and you find yourself having to break into them."

You might even be able to strike up some rapport with other delegates online beforehand. If it is a conference with a Twitter hashtag, for example, you can use it to engage with other people who will be there.

"If you can connect in advance it won't be a cold start and if people are talking about the event on social media it shows they should be happy to meet people at the event itself," Thomas says.

Don't worry about saying something clever

There is nothing wrong with small talk. "People get really het up about finding something clever to say but I would ditch the elevator pitch and try not to overcomplicate things," says Thomas. Just smile, stick your hand out and introduce yourself.

If there is a pause in the conversation, remember it's not just on you to fill the silence, says Armstrong. "Don't be tempted to blurt out the first thing you think of - the chances are you'll want to cringe if you do."

Introverts can use their calmness to create a sense of gravitas and presence, says psychologist Liza Walter Nelson, who has expertise in work psychology. "Introverts also generally have a depth of interests which means they are often full of facts and knowledge," she says. "As long as they come prepared, and quell the nerves a little, this can absolutely be turned into an advantage."

Listen

"Most people enjoy talking about themselves so let them do the talking," says Dr Rob Yeung, psychologist and author of How to Stand Out: Proven Tactics for Getting Noticed. "Prepare a handful of open-ended questions that you can ask pretty much anyone you meet. Ask about their job and their interest in the event, for example."

However, it is still useful to think about soundbites for when the spotlight is turned back to you, says Thomas. "Have some little nuggets which concisely describe what you do," he says.

Aim for quality rather than quantity

Most people are a little reluctant or even anxious about having to talk to complete strangers, says Yeung. If it doesn't come naturally to you, set yourself the goal of meeting a handful of people, he says.

"Rather than networking, I sometimes say to clients I'm coaching that they should aim to engage in netfriending - chatting to people and trying to identify the one or two they genuinely like enough to consider possible friend material. If you can come away with just a few possible friends from an event, then the work benefits may flow naturally at a later date."

Look for small groups or pairs with open body language, rather than close-knit circles, says Armstrong.

Remember to take time out

Being a good networker is also about judging when it is time to move on. If you are feeling really awkward, look to make an exit by saying you need to use the facilities or get another drink.

Smile and emphasise that it was really interesting to talk to the person and would be good to talk again, says Walter-Nelson. Then take a couple of minutes to breathe.

"As an introvert though, remember to take time between talking to people and have a moment or two to yourself to do what you do best: reflect, think and reassess, keep on track."

And if you are feeling really nervous, Thomas says running your wrists under a cold tap for a few seconds can help to calm you.

Judge the vibe

Get into the mindset that the conversation is the beginning of a relationship that you'll build on later, adds Thomas. Remember that you can swap business cards and connect with people on social media afterwards. "I have seen people try too hard to sell themselves and act like a door-to-door salesman. It's very off-putting, especially if it's a Christmas party."

Ultimately, be clear about why you are there and why other people are there too. At a Christmas party where people are just looking to relax, the very most you should aim to come away with is their names and then you can follow up later, says Thomas.

"Try to relax and keep it light. Respect that people are there to socialise - and be careful how much you drink."
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Shhh, quiet: an introvert's guide to networking

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Do not make eye contact. Pretend to look for someone by peering pensively into the middle distance. Do a few sweaty laps of the room. Get another drink. Get a third. Busy yourself with your phone and visit the loo - again.

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Did you know there are only four sentence types in English? To improve your writing and reading skills in English, I'll teach you all about simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences in this grammar video. You'll learn how to identify the independent and dependent clauses. Don't worry, it's easier than it sounds! By learning to identify and use these sentence structures, you'll make your writing more interesting and dynamic. I'll also share many example sentences in the lesson, so you can practice with my help.

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The 4 English Sentence Types - simple, compound, complex, compound-complex

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Did you know there are only four sentence types in English? To improve your writing and reading skills in English, Ill teach you all about simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences in this grammar video. Youll learn how to identify the independent and dependent clauses. Dont worry, its easier than it sounds!

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This site has been updated and relocated under a new name to International School Tutors.

If you are unable to find what you are looking for on the new site, send an email to the webmaster via the Contact page.

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This site has been updated and relocated under a new name to International School Tutors. If you are unable to find what you are looking for on the new site, send an email to the webmaster via the Contact page.

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Because the Internet and web are easy to use and readily accessible, web material is volatile-it changes, becomes outdated, or is deleted. Its inconsistency and sometimes crude form make web information suspect for people who use it for research.

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Noun Phrase Practice #2

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This piece of writing does not 'flow' well. This is called 'choppy' writing because it contains several short, simple SVO (subject + verb + object) sentences, making it uncomfortable for the reader. This is a very basic and inefficient way of writing. Now read this:

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Noun Phrase Practice #1